it is a government effort to balance what passengers want and safety concerns. airline pilots can use ipad flight manuals, begging the question, if they can, why can't we? >> when we use this device, all of the transmission capability is turned off. the problem in the cabin is that there's so many possible combination of personal devices, cell phones and ipads, that the industry hasn't come up with an acceptable test standard to truly determine if in those infinite combinations there's interference. >> reporter: a recent study noted 75 instances in which consumer electronics were suspected of disrupting airplane systems. some are skeptical. >> i don't think it really effects the planes any. so i look at it as an optional rule, if that makes sense. >> i think someone needs to prove to me it is really an issue. i don't know if it's true or not. >> reporter: carl beer sack with a cell phone advocacy group wants to take it a step further. >> people do more than ipad and nook. they actually want to talk to someone, that's what a cell phone is about. >> reporter: and